The Labor enquirer., 1887-08-06
IN THE CITY.
lcontinusd non nrst pase.l


Peter and Annchen had followed brother
to Chicago and, opened a shop double
the size of the old one, and they were
hardly settled when Lieschen sickened
suddenly and after a long illness died
For many weeks there was no earning
Even the angry Grossvaler saw that it was
impossible, and doled out reluctantly the
money they had helped him to save. Lies
chen had always fretted him. Lotte was
the best gift she had ever made the Bauer
name, and when the funeral was over, ne
went home, secretly relieved that the long
watch was over; went home to fnd that
the precious chest, hidden always under
piles of clothing in the closet where he
locked his own possessions, had disaP-
peared. There had been moving from
the story above. Men had gone up and
down for an hour, and no one had no
ticed specially what had been carried.
There was no clue, even after days OF
searching; and Grossvater Bauer, who had
rushed madly to the police station,
haunted 1t now, with imploring questions,
till told they could do nothing and that
he must keep away. He sank then into
d. the sort Of apathy that had held him when
the news came from Sedan. He went to
his work, but there was no heart in 1t, and
sat by the FIRE when night came, with only
an impatient shake Of the head when
Lotte tried to comfort him. Till then no
one had realized his age, but now his hair
whitened and his broad shoulders bowed.
He was an old man; and Lotte said to
herself that his earning days were nearly
over, and worked an hour or two later
that the weeks gain might be little
larger and 90 comfort him.
She came home one afternoon with her
bundle Of vprk. Gretchen, who was near
ly thirteen, had helped her carry it, and
had shrunk back frightened as the fore
man put finger under her chin, and nod
ded smilingly at the peach-like face and
the great blue eyes. Lotte struck down
his hand passionately. She knew better
than Gretchen what the smile meant. The
child should never know il she could help
IL, and she did not mind the evil glance
that followed her toward the door. Their
were people standing at their doors as
she went slowly up the stairs, her breath
coming quickly, as now it always did
when she climbed them.
"Poor soulw one of them said. "She
little knows what she's coming too"
"was ist los?" Lotte cried as the door
opened, and then shrieked aloud, for the
Grossvater lay there on the bed, crushed
and disfgured and almost speechless, but
lifting one hand feebly as she flew toward
him.
"A sugar hogshead," somebody's said.
ut rolled over him when he thought it
was firm, and brought down some barrels
with 1t. He's past helping. May the
saints have heart for the poor children!
He would be brought here, but what will
you do with hims"
"Therell be naught to do by the morn
ming" said another. Cant you see he's
going" But by morning no change had
come, nor for many mornings. The
wounds and bruises slowly healed, but
save for the one hand that moved toward
her, there were no signs of life. The
strong body held by paralysis might lin
ger for years, and Lotte must earn for
him and for all. Even then living
might have been possible, for Gretchen
had place as cash-girl and earned two
dollars week, and Lisa was promised one
after New Years. But it was hard win
ter. They ate only what they must, and
Lotte's blue eyes looked out from hollow
sockets, and she shivered with cold
Wages had fallen, and they fell faster
faster and till by January her ten and
twelve hours work brought her but
six dollars instead of the eight or nine
she had always earned. The foreman she
hated made everything as difficult as pos
sible. Though the bundle came ready
from the cutting room, he had managed
more than once to slip out some essential
piece, and thus lessened her weeks wages,
no price being paid where garment was
ret' rned unfinished. He had often done
this where girls had refused his ad-
vances, yet it was impossible to make
complaint. The great house on Canal
street left these matters entirely with him,
and regarded complaint as mere black
mailing. Lotte tried others, but wages
we're even less. She was sure of work
here,/and pay was prompt. With the
spring things must be better. But long
before spring Lisa had sickened and
died, and Lotte had buried her in the pot.
ter's field, and hurried home to make up
the lost time, and hush the crying little
ones as she could. 1t did not occur to her
that she could write to Annchen and ask
for help, and Franz had quarreled with